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Interview and Giveaway with Stoker-nominated author CHARLES DAY

For my very first giveaway, I decided to jump in on the Something Wicked Returns Blog Hop! I’m a big horror fan – I read it, I watch it, I write it – so this was the perfect place for me to start out. Fortunately for me, my very good friend Charles Day was willing to let me chat with him a little about his books and projects, and even offered to give away a PDF copy of his book “The Adventures of Kyle McGerrt: Hunt for The Ghoulish Bartender!”

Charles Day, the man behind the Evil Jester, is the Bram Stoker-nominated author of several books and short stories. Additionally, he recently edited an anthology, he’s the Mentor Program Committee Chairperson for the Horror Writers Association and co-chair for their NY/Long Island chapter, the founder/owner of Hidden Thoughts Press, and the owner of both Evil Jester Press and Evil Jester Comics. Whew!

Charles’ novels include the Stoker-nominated YA novel “The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief” (Noble YA Publishers LLC, January 2012), the recently released “The Adventures of Kyle McGerrt: Hunt for The Ghoulish Bartender” (the first book in his YA western horror trilogy featuring sixteen-year-old Kyle) (Blood Bound Books, June 2013), and the upcoming adult novel “Deep Within” (Alter Press, Fall 2013). His horror novella “Lockdown” was published in the anthology “Hannibal’s Manor” (Wicked East Press, August 2011).

His short stories have been included in several anthologies, including (but not limited to) his story “The Buzz” (co-written with author Peter Giglio) in the anthology “Under the Stairs” (Wicked East Press, January 2012), and his tale of how the Evil Little Jester came to be so evil, “The Gift,” found in “Tales of Terror & Mayhem From Deep Within the Box” (Evil Jester Press, August 2012), which was edited by – you guessed it! – Charles Day. And a little shameless self-promotion here: you can also find a couple of my own stories in those two anthologies – “The Brobdingnagian Bottle of Heart’s Desire” can be found in “Under the Stairs,” and my story “Rest Stop” is located in “Tales of Terror & Mayhem From Deep Within the Box.”

I had the opportunity to ask Charles a few questions that were on my mind, and here’s what he had to say:

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer?
I only became serious about it after I started getting short stories published a few years back, but I always wanted to be a writer/director/actor since I was a kid.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and who are some new up-and-coming authors we should keep an eye on?
I have so many authors I admire. Stephen King, Joe Hill (my fav lately), Dan Simmons, Barry Lyga, Tonya Hurley, Heather Graham, Dean Koontz, and as for up-and-coming authors, I have so many Facebook writer friends and fellow authors I admire. Too many to write.

What was your reaction when you found out “The Legend of the Pumpkin Thief” had been nominated for a Stoker award?
Holy &*()^%$!!!

You’re a really busy guy – in addition to your writing career, you’re also the co-founder of Evil Jester Comics, the Co-owner of Evil Jester Press and Hidden Thoughts Press, the HWA Mentor Program Committee Chair, Co-Chair for NY/LI chapter of the Horror Writers Association and a committee member on their Library services committee, a member of the ALA and YALSA, you recently edited a collection of short stories, you’re one of the judges in a current writing competition, a m… do you ever sleep, or are you a vampire who doesn’t need rest?
Hehehehe! I try to do my best to keep busy, but I did finally step down from my day job after 25 years working in the mental health industry to pursue my passions.

(Please notice that Mr. Day did not, in fact, answer my question about whether or not he’s a sleep-eschewing vampire. Rather suspicious, don’t you think?)

Tell me more about your upcoming non-YA novel, “Deep Within.”
Real excited to be finally seeing this book get published. Wrote it so many years ago. Now, at 74,000 words (after so much editing) this will be my first not YA book. Evil has just been born at the Moose Hill Asylum, and now it’s determined to stay alive.

I know you have a lot of projects in the works – what else are you working on right now, or have coming out soon?
I’m working on a comic book series for my YA novel trilogy THE HUNT FOR THE GHOULISH BARTENDER, I’m currently writing a new YA series, IMMORTAL FAMILY, and a middle-grade series, THE UNDERDWELLERS, Book 1 SUMMER CAMP. Both are nearing 20,000 words.

Anything else you’d like to share?
I always share that if you really just go after your passions, stay persistent, and you love what you’re doing, things will happen. But most importantly do the best you can to promote your work, be social with all your friends and fans, and keep writing great stories that keep your readers coming back for more.

I’d like to take Charles for taking the time out of his incredibly busy schedule to talk to me, and for his generosity in offering one Dividing by Zero reader the chance to win a FREE PDF of his YA novel, “The Adventures of Kyle McGerrt: Hunt for The Ghoulish Bartender!” Thank you so much, Charles!

From the Amazon page for “The Adventures of Kyle McGerrt: Hunt for The Ghoulish Bartender“: “An army of the undead is gathering outside the town of Boonesville. Thanks to a special medallion left to him by his father, sixteen year old Kyle McGerrt is the only one who stands a chance against Bart Shires and his ghoulish soldiers. But following in his father’s footsteps won’t be easy.”

Up for grabs: Charles Day is generously offering a PDF copy of his YA novel “The Adventures of Kyle McGerrit: Hunt for The Ghoulish Bartender!” The giveaway is open to US and Canada and will end October 31st. For your chance to win, enter the Giveaway Tools below. Good luck!

DISCLAIMER: I did not receive any form of compensation for this post, and all opinions expressed are my own except where noted otherwise. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides, Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.